Emergency services have issued a warning after a spate of deliberate fires were started near shops in Glastonbury and Street in recent weeks.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said several of the incidents had the potential to cause more serious damage had they been left to spread.

Details of seven fires were released as cautionary tales by the service, reaching back to the start of June.

Deliberate fire incidents

Rubbish set alight deliberately in the entrance to a hotel, Glastonbury, on 4 July at 6.53am, causing damage to the front door. Crews had to work quickly to extinguish and cut away the remains of the fire in order to prevent fire spread to the rest of the derelict property.

A bin was deliberately set alight on Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, on 26 June at 5.45am.

Rubbish was set alight behind a supermarket in Glastonbury on 17 June at 8.54pm. Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire but it had spread to grass and had the potential to spread to nearby properties.

A large skip was set alight near a pub on Benedict Street, Glastonbury, on 4 June at 3.50am. Arrival found a large skip well alight underneath the pub. Crews found the skip alight on arrival and extinguished the fire using compressed air foam. The property suffered from fire and smoke damage and residents were able to evacuate due to the sounding of the fire alarm giving early warning of the fire.

Two commercial bins were set alight near a fast food restaurant at Wirral Park, Glastonbury, on 3 June at 1.45am. Crews had to extinguish the fire with compressed air foam to prevent further damage to the buildings.

A wheelie bin containing waste materials was set alight at the rear of a bookmakers, High Street, on 17 June at 1.52am. Crews had to extinguish the fire using a hose reel jet and check for fire spread to the property.

There was a second fire near a supermarket, West End, at 1.30am on 20 June. Roll cages containing cardboard were set alight causing fire damage to electrical cables and the flat roof. Crews put out the fire using extinguishers, a hose reel jet and small tools were used to check for fire spread.

The fire service also released a set of measures to help reduce the chance of arson, including keeping bins and waste in a secure place, not putting bins next to buildings and vehicles and taking items to charity shops when they are open - instead of leaving them outside - to reduce the risk.

Watch managers Chris Higgins and Adam Whitcombe, from Street and Glastonbury respectively, said: “Fires started deliberately can be particularly dangerous because they generally develop much faster.

A warning has been issued after several fires were started deliberately (Image: Getty)

"Fires started in bins or on open ground can spread to properties or vehicles near-by and put people’s lives, homes and businesses at risk.

“We are asking shop management teams and members of the public to be vigilant and keep all flammable goods securely stored.”

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